Paper-feeding machine.



No. 664,340. Patented Dec. i8, i900.

" C. A. STUETEVANT.

PAPER FEEDWG MAGHINE. (Application filed Apr. 28, 1897. Reuewed mm 9, 1900.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 664,346. Patented Dec. l8, I900. C. A. STURTEVANT. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. (Application filed Apr. 28, 18974 Renewed Mar. 9, 1900.)

4 Sheets-$haet 2.

(No Model.)

invemkn J 433 Nu. 664,340. Patented Dec. [8, I900.

. A. STURTEVANT.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Applifltion filed Apr 28, 1897. Renewed Mm. 9, 19uu. [N0 M01105.) p 4 Sheets-Shaet 3,

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ill 1677250)" Patented Dec. I8, 1900;.

'4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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w 9 1 9 m NM T m OW A VMB E T67. nnNw Um EB SE2 FL p ARA .Ew Pu -m n .w m p m H 4 3 4 J 6 e 6 M 0. M N M am r? R I NiTEn STATES JHARLES A. STURTEVANT, OF PLA nFI Ln, NEW JERSEY, Asslcnonfoi ONE-HALF TO DE WiTT'C. WELD, Jnq, on SING s ne, NEW YORK."

PAPER-FEEDING, MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent no. 664,340, dated necemberis, i900; Application filed April 28.1897. Renata March 9,1900. Serial No. 8.076. on model.)

To aZZ whom, it may.concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. S'IURTE- VANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines,

of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines which are used for feeding sheets of paper successively from a pile, stack, or bank to a ruling'machine, printing-press, or other appaeiatus; and it has for its object to prduce a simple and efiicient machine for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a paper-feeding machine provided with my. Fig. 2 1s a side elevation improvements. showing theupper portion of the machine viewed from the opposite side. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections, On an enlarged scale, re: .speotively, of the front and rear'wheels .on

which the feed-bands are mounted. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the front feed-wheel and the feed-band, showing a modifie'ilf construction of these parts. Fig. 6 isa loiigitw dinal sectional elevation of the upper portion of the machine, showing the feed-band ele vated from the pile of sheets. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the feed-band depressed.

' Fig. 8 is an inside elevation, partly in section, of one of the side frames and connect- 7 line 16 16,Fig. 13.

ing parts. sect-ion, on an enlarged-scale, of one of the pile-retarders. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of one of the I'rout tapes which-receive and remove the sheet after it has ,beensepa rated from the pile. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one of tlle-sprocket-wheels and'guards. Fig. 12 is across-section in line 12 12, Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a top plan view-of themachine. Fig. 14 is a longitnliinal section of one of the pile-retainers on an enlarged scale.

ing backward.) Fig. 16 is a cross-section in Fig. -l7is a sectional ele vat-ion in line 171 7,Fig. 16. Fig. 18isaver tical cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the guide-standards of the rear band wheel shaft. Fig. 19 isa longitudinal verti Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical' Fig. 15. is a cross-section in line 15, Fig. 14', lobl anism for raising the pile-tab'le; Fig. 20 is a vertical transverse section ii? line 20' 20, Fig.-

.13. Fig. 21 is a side elevation of thefellip-- tical gear-wheels, whereby motion is trans' cal section, on an enlarged scale,*'0f the and connecting parts of the automatic IHBGh'.

mitted to thefront' shaft of the band-wheels;

Fig. 22 is a vertical transversesection in line 22 22, Fig. 13, and correspondin'gwith Fi 20, the latter showingparts on the left-hand side and Fig. -22 parts on the right-hand side of the machine; Fig. 23 is'a side elevation of the cam forniing'part-of the automatic ta ole-raising mechanism.

vation of the ratchet-wheel forming part of Fig1j24 isa side ele-o- 'the saine mechanism Figs. 25 to 32 are diagrams illustrating diifere-nt positions of the feeding-band's and drive-chain. v Like letters and-figures ofreference refer to like parts in the several figures.

-A represents the side frames of the machine,

between which the vertically-movable table B is arranged, on which the pile -,of sheets 0 is supported. Theseside frames are connected by cross-stays in'the usual manner. The table is vertically movable between the side frames and ismoved upwardly automah ically in'sn-ch manner that'the top of-the pile is maintained in theproper relation togthe g Q D represents the endless tapes, which are? i'neclianism by which the top sheet is r aps.

arranged at the front end of the machine and which receive and removethesheet as it is fed elf from the top of the pile. These tapes run with their. receiving portions around.

small rollers l,'whi ch turn' loosely aboilt' transverse rod 2, airanged'in the front'por-j front end of the pile, as shown in I1i'gs.;6,7 8, and 10-, andwith their delivery portions I around large roller, which is'se'cured'to'a transverse shaft 4an'd forming the main am:

.irig-shzift; to which poi ver is'applied loy' a." I

sprocket-wheel 5 or other mechanism; -The uppercarrying portions of thesetapes are supported between the. rollers. 1 and-3 byh.

Y 1owerlro'ller--.6, against which the tapes ,held by; upper rollers 7, which are moun These tapes and guides may, however, be arranged and operated in any other suitable manner.

E represents endless feeding-bands which are arranged lengthwise-above the pile and which are capable of movement toward and from the top of the pile and which move with their lower portions forwardly or in the direction in which the top sheet is fed 01f, so that when the feeding-bands are brought down upon the top sheet the forward movement of the lower portions of thebands will separate the top sheet from the pile and move the sheet forwardly within" reach of the front tapes or other devices which may be employed for removing the sheet. V

The drawingsshow two feeding-bands arranged side by side over convenient portions of the pile, so as to properly take hold of the top. sheet; but the number of these bands "may be-increased as the size of the sheet, the qualityof the paper, or other conditions may require. Each of these bands is mounted upon a front wheelF and a rear wheel F, and

these wheels are mounted ecceutrically upon transverse shafts ff. The rotation of these eccentric wheels moves the feeding-bands toward and from the top of the pile and at the same time propels the bands in the proper direction to cause-them to feed the top sheet forwardly from the top of the pile when the lower portions of the bands are in frictional contact. with the top sheet.

fis journaled in arms 10, which are secured The front shaft with their lower ends to the transverse rod 2,

" on which the receiving-rollers of the front tapes are mounted. Theserock-arms are arranged 'on the outer sides of the side frames,

Figs. 8, 13, 20, and 22, and are both swung 4? .low the top sheet-and preventing any lower sheets from. being fed out with the top sheet,

As shown in Figs. 6, 7, and9, these retarders arej'nionnted upon the same rod 2 which carries the supporting-arms of the front wheels and the receiving-rollers of the front tapes and are each composed of abifurcated block or saddle 13, which straddles the rod 2 and is clampedthereon by a screw 14, and a covering orfacing of rubber or other suitable material. The uprightfront guides 16, which restrain the-upper front portion of the pile,

may be secured to these retarders, as shown in the drawings.

Motion is transmitted to the front shaftf j'of" thegfeedingsbands from the lain drivingshown in Figs. 2, 13, 20, and 21.

gage.

sage 10,

shaft a by a train of gear-wheelawhich is This train consists of a pinion 17, which is mounted on the main driving-shaft 4, a gear-wheel 18, which meshes with that pinion andis mounted on an adjustable arm 19, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and infull lines in Fig. 13,) a gear-wheel 2 which meshes with the Wheel 18 and isniounted loosely on the outer portionof the hub of the adjacent supportingarm of the front shaft f, shown in Fig. 20, an elliptical gear-Wheel 21, arranged on the rear side of the wheel 20 and seen red thereto, and an elliptical gear-wheel 22, secured to the front shaft f. The gear-wheel 17 is interchangeable for a smaller or larger one for changing the speed;

H H are sprocket-wheels which are seen red concentrically, respectively, to thefront and rear shaftsf and f of the band-wheels, and his a drive-chain or chain belt whieh is applied to these sprocket-wheels. In order to compel the feedingbands to travel with the front band-wheels without slipping, various devices may beemployed. For instance, as shown in Fig. 3, a rib 23 may be formed longitudinally on the inner side or back ofeach band, in which case the front wheelF is provided in its face with a circumferential groove, in which the rib of the band engages snugly. This rib may be formed by a cord which is secured to the band by means of a canvas covering cemented to the band. Another construction for the same purpose isshown in Fig. 5. In this construction the band is provided on its inner side with projections 24 and the front wheel is provided in its face with a circumferential row of corresponding depressions 25, in which the projections en- These projections may be formed integrally with the band if thelatter is made of soft rubber, which is the preferred material. The outer side or face of the band is preferably roughened in order to give the band a firm hold upon the paper, as the intention is to move the top sheet by the frictional contact of the band on the sheet with as little downward pressure upon the pile as can be used. I

The position of the rear shaft of the bandwheel is controlled by standards I, which are arranged on the inner side of the side frames, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 13, and 18. These guide-standards are provided in their upper portions .with slots 26, into which the end portions of the rear shaft f project, the shaft being provided with collars 27 on-theinner sides of the standards. The latter are pivoted at. their lower ends, and their pivotal points :are made longitudinally adjustable in the machine, so that the position of the standards can be changed by shifting the pivotal points backwardiy or forwardly. In the position'of the standards shown in Fig. 8 the arms lean rearwardly from their pivotal points. In this position of. the standards the tension of the feeding-bands tends to draw the rear shaft forwardly and downwardly in the slots, and as the weight of'the rear shaft and the parts mounted thereon also tends to move the rear shaft downwardly in the slots the rear wheels exert considerable downward pressure upon the pile. When it is desired to reduce this downward pressure, the pivotal points of the standards are shifted rearwardly, so that the standards lean forwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. In that position of the standards the tension of the feed-bands tends to draw the rear shaft upwardly in the slots and relieves the downward pressure to that extent. The devices whereby the position of these standards can be adjusted may be constructed in various ways, the construction which is shown in the drawings being as follows: 28 represents a horizontal rack-bar which is arranged longitudinally in front of each standard and which carries at its downwardly-turned rear end the horizontal pivot 29, on which the standard is mounted. This pivot extends outwardly from the rack-bar and is surrounded by a spring 30, which is secured at one end to the rack-bar and at the other end to the standard and strained in such a direction that it tends to turn the arm backwardly,thereby applying tension to the bands. The outer end of the pivot 29 projects intoa horizontal slot 31, formed in a longitudinal guide-plate 32, secured to the upper portion of the side frame, on the inner side thereof, Figs. 8 and 18. The rack-bar is guided on the side frame by a bolt 33, which-is secured to the plate 32 and engages in a horizontal slot 84 in the rack-bar. The two rack-bars are moved simultaneously back and forth by gear-segments 35, which are secured to a transverse shaft 36, Figs. 8, 13, and 16. This shaft is journaled in bearings 37 on the side frames and provided at one end with a handle 38, by which it can be turned for adjusting the standards. The shaft is held in its adjusted position by any suitable device-for instance, by a clamping screw 39, which passes through the movable jaw of the bearing37, which is split on one side, as shown in Fig. 17, to permit the bearing to be tightened against the shaft.

J represents pile-retainers, which are arranged over the rear portion of the pile and which come down on the pile after the top sheet has been moved forwardly by the feeding-bands and bear upon the next lower sheet in rear of the forwardly-moving top sheet and prevent undue displacement of the sheets immediately below the top sheet. These pileretainers are hung upon'the transverse shaft .36, by which the guide-arms I are adjusted; but this is merely a matter of convenience,

and other pivotal supports for the pile-retainers may be provided. As shown in Figs. 6, 7, 13, 14, and 15, each pile-retainer consists of a rubber-faced disk 40, mounted on a longitudinal stem 41, a longitudinal rod 42, arranged on one side of the stem 41 and connected at its rear end with said stem by a clamping-arm 43, and a supporting-sleeve 44, in which the longitudinal rod 42 is clamped and which is hung upon the pivotal support of the pile-retainer and connected with the shaft f of the rear band-wheels. The supporting-sleeve 44 is splitat its rear end and provided with a clamping-bolt 45, by which means the rod 42 is clamped in the sleeve. This rod can be adjusted lengthwise in the sleeve for adjusting the retainer-disk 40 backwardly or forwardly on the pile. The supporting-sleeve 44 is connected with the rear shaft f by a hanger 46, which is secured to the sleeve and provided above the sleeve with a transverse opening in which the rear shaft turns. The front end of the supporting-sleeve is clamped to a transverse sleeve by which it turns on the pivotal shaft 36 by means of a divided socket 47, which embraces the transversesleeve and which is clamped upon the latter by a tubular screw 48. The latter surrounds the rod 42 and enters the divided socket from the front and engages with its inner threaded end in a screw-thread inthe socket, as shown in Fig. 14.

The clamping-arm 43, which connects th rear end of the rod 42 with the stem 41, is composed of two similar parts which embrace the stem and the rod and which are clamped thereon by screws, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. This clamping-arm permits of thelengthwise adjustment of the retainer-disk 40 and also of raising and lowering the same with reference to the rod 42 and of arranging it on one 'side or the other of the rod, as may be most suitable for properly retaining the pile.

The supporting-sleeve 44 of one of the pileretainers is clamped at its front end to a transverse sleeve 4-l,which serves merely as aswiveling connection of the supporting-sleeve with the transverse shaft 36. This is the sleeve which, as shown in the drawings, is arranged on the left-hand side of the machine viewed in the direction in which the paper is-fed off swiveling connection, but also as part of the mechanism whereby the pile-table is automatically controlled. V

The mechanism by which the top sheet is separated from the pile and removed can be used with any suitable pile-supporti-for instance, a table which is automatically moved up as the sheets are fed off or a stationary table on which the bank of sheets is feathered out. The drawings show a table which is raised by automatic mechanism controlled by the height of the pile, and this mechan: ism is so contrived that the automatic mechanism can be thrown out of gear and the table can be raised or lowered quickly by hand for placing the table in position to receive a new pile of paper or to bring the top of the pile up to the feeding off mechanism for starting. This mechanism is constructed as follows: r

The pile-table B is guided on both sides in the upright rear portions of the side frames and is suspended by two chains 51, which extend from the pile-table upwardly on the inner side of each side frame over a rear guideroller 52, then forwardly and over a front guide-roller 53, then downwardly and over a sprocket-pinion 54:, and then down to a counterweight 55, Figs.8, 20, and 22. The sprocketpinions 54 are secured to a transverse shaft 56, and by turning the shaft in one or the other direction the table is raised or lowered. The automatic mechanism for raising and lowering it are applied to the shaft 56. The right-hand end of the shaft 56 is made square or otherwise adapted to receive a hand-crank, as shown in Fig. 22, and carries on the outer side of the right-hand side frame a ratchetwheel 57, Fig. 24, which is secured to the shaft.

58 is a worm-wheel which surrounds the ratchet-wheel 57 and is loosely mounted on the shaft. A pawl 59 is arranged in the wormwheel so as to couple the two together when engaged with the ratchet-wheel, as shown in Fig. 24; but this pawl can be disengaged from the ratchet-Wheel by a handle 59, with which the pawl is provided, and when it is so disengaged theshaft 56 can be turned by hand in either direction and the table can be quickly raised or lowered. g

60 is a longitudinal rock-lever which is actuated from the front shaftfof the bandwheels by a gear-wheel 61, secured to the shaft f, a gear-wheel 62, meshing therewith, and a cam 63, arranged on the rear side of the gear-wheel 62 and engaging in the looped plays an upright dog 65, Figs. 1, l6, and 19.

This dog is held against the front end of the slot by a spring 66, which is applied to the stud 67, connecting the lower end of the dog with apawl-arm 68. Thelatter carriesa pawl 69, which actuates a ratchet-wheel 70, Fig. 16, and this ratchet-wheel is secured to the longitudinal shaft of a worm 71, by which the worm-wheel 58 is rotated, Figs. 1, 13, 16, and 22. The up-and-down movement of the rear arm ofthe rock-lever 6O actuates the dog 65 so long as the shoulder of the latter engages over the rock-lever, as shown in Fig. 19, and'this up-and-down movement of the dog actuates the ratchet-wheel and through the worm not engage over the upper side of the rocklever, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 19, the

up-and-down movement of the rock-lever does not move the dog and the pile-table is not moved.

73 is a bent finger which is secured by its hub 7 to the right-hand end of the sleeve 50, Fig. 16, and which extends over the adjacent side frame and downwardly on the outer side of thelatter and below the shaft 50 and terminates in front of the upper end of the dog 65, as shown in Figs. 1 and 19. The position of this finger is controlled by the position of the top of the pile. ment of the rear band-wheel, which is con= nected-with the sleeve 50, is arrested by the top of the pile,- and as this point to which the rear band=wheel descends is higher or lower the finger 73 is swung back with its lower end to a greater or less extent by the greater or less rocking movement which is therebyim= parted to the sleeve about the shaft 36 as a fulcrum. If the top of the pile is comparatively high, the downward movement of the band-wheel is arrested sooner and the lower end of the finger is swung back so far that it presses the dog rearwardly and out of engagement with the rock-lever 60, so that no further upward movement of the table takes place. If the top of the pile is comparatively low, the band-wheel does not strike the pile so soon, and the end of the finger is not thrown back far enough to disengage the dog from the rock-arm, and the upward movement of the latter moves the table. This backward swinging movement of the finger takes place at every downward movement of the bandwheel and just before the upward movement of the rear arm of the rock-lever begins.

The operation of the endless feeding-bands is as follows: The rotary movement of the front shaftf produces a rotary movement of both eccentric front band-wheels F, and the movement of the front shaft istransmitted to the rear shaft f principally by the drivechaln and sprocket-wheels, but also to a small extent bythe feeding-bands. The rotary movement of the wheels takes place in the proper direction to cause the bands totravel with their lower portions forwardly and their upper portions rearwardly, as indicated by the arrows. This rotary movement of the band-wheels about axes which are eccentric to the wheels causes the wheels and the bands to move bodily toward and from the .pile of paper. During the downward movement of the wheels the lower portions of the bands approach the top of the pile and are finally pressed down upon the top sheet and move the top' sheet quickly from the pile. After the sheet has been fed ofi the bands rise again from the pile. The bands are propelled by the circular faces of theirsupporting-wheels, and as these wheels are'eccentric with reference to their shafts they impart a linear movement to the bands,which increases in speed as the bands move downwardly toward the top sheet, and this speed is greatest in the lowest position of the bands. This is The downward move-.

true even when the front shaft is rotated with a uniform speed; but lhespeed of the bands in v the position in which they feed off the top sheet is preferably further increased by elliptical gears, as described and shown, which impart to the front shaft a varying speed which is greatest in the lowest position of the bandwheels. The drivechain, which connects the front and rear shafts of the band-wheels, is preferably somewhat slack, so to allow the rear wheels a. limited capacity to move independently of the front wheels. -'l.his is illustratetl by the diagrams Figs. 25 to 32. Fig. 25 shows the bands in their highest positiomand :5 Fig. 26 the corresponding condition of the drive-chain, which is taut in its lower portion 'and slack in its upper portion. In this position of the wheels the cent-er of the rear wheel legs slightlybehind the oenterof the front wheel: Asthe center of the. rear wheel turns rearwardly beyond its highest position and moves f vdow nwardly the rear wheel is free to slip and turns downward more quickly thanv the front wheel until the upper portion of the drive- -'chain has become taut and the lower portion slack, as shown in Fig. 28. This enables the rear wheel to come down on the pile quickly and strike the top sheet with the rear portion of the band immediately after the front 30 portionof the band strikes. f The front wheel and the front portion of the band controlled thereby strike the top sheet slightly in ad- 7 Vance of the rear wheel and start the sheet on its forward movement, because the front shaft is arranged somewhat lower than the rear shaft, as shown in Fig. 7, and the independent downward movement of the rear wheel enables the latter to catch up with the front wheel and to gain on the front wheel in its rotary movement, so thatthe center of the rear wheel is then slightly in advance of the center of the front wheel, as shown in Figs. 27am 29. This relative position of ,the' two wheels is maintained until the band has been 5 lifted. from the pile, shown in Fig. 31. When the band is down on the pile, the lower part of the chain is, slack, as shown in Figs. 28 and 30, and wheat-he band has been lifted frointhe pile, as shown in Fig. 31, both parts of the chain are slack, as shown in Fig. 32. Du'ring the further rotation of the wheel in approaching the highest. position the lower top sheet in control of the front wheel, which i is the wheel to which the power is primarily applied. The lower sheet-retarder is arranged adjacent to the front wheel by which the tact is reduced and lowers the retainers upon the pile.

. fending off of the sheet is controlled and cooperates tlwl'ewilli in preventing the feeding,

out of norethan one sheet at a time. drive-chain is alternately taut on one side or the other and at times slack on both sides, it is desirable to guard against any possibility .of the chain leavingits sprocket-wheels, and for that purpose a chain-guard K, Figs. 11

and it, is prefere bly applied to each sprocketwheel. 'lhis guard is loosely mounted on the shaft on one side of the sprocket-wheel and consists of adisir 7:5,havinn ahuh '76. through which the shaft passes, and a flange 77, which overhangs the sprocket-wheel and chain and has flaring ends. This guard is held against lateral displacement on the shaft on one side by the;sproclactwheel and on the other side by a collar 76 secured to the shaft.

The front band-wheels can be adjusiedup I or down by means of the adjustable arms, in which their shaft f is mounted, so that the front part of-l be lower portion of the 'bandis held below the top of the lowersheet'retarder to the extent which is necessary'togiye the.

As the bands the desired hold on the sheet immediately above the retarder. l ly adjustingthe front wheels downwardly the length of the contact bet-ween the band and thereta-rder is increased and the bend in the band is increased, thereby increasing the hold of the front portion of the band on the sheet. By adjusting the front. wheel upwardly the conl/Vhcn the frontwheels'are adjusted in one or the other direction, the rear wheels are adjusted correspondingly by adjusting the guide-standards with which the rear shaft f is connected. j

When the rear wheels are elevated above the pile, as shown in Fig. 6, the pile-retain ers rest upon the pile, being supported on the shaft 30 in front of the rear wheels and being held down upon the pile by the weight of the rear wheels and connecting parts, which rest upon the supporting-sleeves of the pilerel'ainers in rear of i the pivotal supports thereof. When the rear. wheels strike the pile in theirdownward movement, their shaft rises in the slots of the guide'standards, and

this upward movement of the shaft swings the supporting-sleeves on their pivotal supports, thereby raising the pile-retainers, as"

shown in Fig. 7. The pile-retainers remain in their elevated position until iherear wheels rise from the pile, when theirshaft descends In this manner the pile-mtaiuers are raised while the top sheetis being fed ofiand are lowered and pressed upon the pile immediatcly after the feeding action of the rear wheels has ceased.- As eaclrof the pile-retainers is pivot-ally supported iudependentof the other, each can bear upon the pile firmly without interference bythe othen.

The duration of the contact of the rear band-wheels with the pile can be regulated by adjusting the pile-retaining disk up or down on thelengitudinai rod, to the rear end 6o an endless traveling feeding-band, eccentric of which it is secured. By raising the pile retaining disk the duration of this contact is increased and 'by lowering it it isreduced. This pile-retainer is made in the form of a disk to enable a new part of its face to be placedin position'for contact with the paper when the part first used has become worn or glazed by use, and to enable the retainer to always hear properly upon the sheet in any position to which it may be adjusted.

' "Iclaim as my invention- 1. In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a'pile, stack or bank of sheets, the combination with an endless traveling feeding- .band, of means whereby the band is moved toward and from the pile, stack or bank, and

mechanism whereby a variable linear movement is imparted to the band, substantially as setforth- 2. Thecombination with a support for a pile, stack or bank1of sheets, of an endless feeding-band, and eccentric circular wheels on which said band is mounted, substantially as set forth. I V

3. The combination with a support for a pile, stack or bank of shee s, of an endless feeding-band, supporting-wheels on which said band ismounted and which are eccentrically'seciired' to their shafts, sprocketwheels which are concentrically secured tosaid shafts, and a driveschain applied to said sprocket-wheels, substantially as set forth.

4.,lhe combination with a support for a pilejstack or bank of sheets, of anendless feeding-band, an eccentric front supportingwheel and its shaft, means whereby said shaft is rotated, aneccentric rear supporting-wheel and its shaft, movable supports in which the shaft of said rear wheel is arranged, and

" of said wheels are connected, substantially as set forth. 6. The combination witlra pile-support, of

an endless traveling band having a 'longitw,

dinal rib on its back, an eccentric front wheel having a narrow groove in which said. rib

binds, and an eccentric rear wheel having a' wide groove in which said rib slips, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a pilesupport, of

' front and rear'ibandwheels, means'whereby the front wheel can be adjusted up or down, and a lower sheetretarder arranged below said front wheel, substantiallyas set forth.

' 8. The combination with a pile-support, of

an endlessLtraveling feeding-hand, eccentric I endless traveling feeding-ban band-wheels, of a pile-relainerwhich is operand having a connection with said front and rear band-wheels, a shaft to which the front wheel is secured, adjustable arms in which said shaft/is journaled and which are seen red to a transverse rod capable of a rocking adjustment, and a lower sheet-retarder mounted on said rod, substantially as set forth. v

9. The combination with a pile-support, an endless traveling feeding-band, and front and rear band-wheels aild their shafts, of standards in which the shaft of the rear wheel is guided, and pivotal supports for said stand- .ards which are longitudinally adjustable and whereby the inclination of the standards can be changed, substantially as set forth.

10. The'combination with the pile-sup ort, an endless traveling feeding-band, and ront and rear band-wheels, of pivoted standards in which the shaft'of the rear wheelie guided, longitudinal rackbars which carry the pi vots. on which said standards are mounted, and gear-segments by which said rack-bars can be adjusted forwardly and backwardly, subsfantially. as set forth.

' 11. The combination with a pile-supporthtn endless traveling feeding-band, andeccentrlc front and rear bandwhee1s and their shafts, of 'slotted standards in which the shaft of the rear wheel is guided and which said shaft can rise and fall, substantially asset forth.

12. The combination with agile-supporhan ated by the, upand-down movement of the rear band-wheel and brought down on the pile as the band-wheel rises'iherefrom and raised as the wheel strikesthe pile, substantially as set forth. r

13. The combination with a pile-supporha'n and eccentric.

endless traveling feeding-baud, and eccentric band-wheels and theirshaft's,of a pile-retainer connected with the shaft of the rear bands wheel, substantiallyas set forth. c 14. The com'bination'with a pile-sumgorhan endless traveling feeding-band, and eccentric band-wheels and thei rshaf ts, of a pile-retaiiietadapted to bear upon the pile in rear of the rear band-wheel and having a-pivotal sup rt in front of the shaft of the rear baud-w leel shaft, substantially as set forth;

15. The combination with a pile-supporhan. i

endlesstraveling feeding-band,.and eccentric band-wheels and their shafts of a pile-rev.

tainer attached to a longitudinhl i od which is clamped in asleeve, a, swiveling "support on which said sleeve is h tting in front of said rear wheel, and "a hanger attached to said sleeve and through which the shaft of the rear wheel. passes, substantially as set forth.

- 16. Thecombination withapile-'support,an'

endless traveling feeding-band,-and eccentric; band-wheels, of a pile-retainerwhich is operated by'the up-and-down movement of the rear wheel and which is pr'ovided with a iongitudinal supporting-rod connected with the t cs.

shaft of said rear wheel, a stem arranged on one side of said rod, a lateral ad justing-arm connecting said rod and stem, and a retainingdisk mounted onsaid stem, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with the vertically movable pile-table, its elevating-chains, the

' from said loose gear-wheel without disengaging the actuating-pawl of the table-elevating mechanism, substantiallyas set forth.

18'. The combination with a vertically-[nev able pile-table, an endless traveling feedingband, and baud-wheels, which move. toward and from the pile, of elevating mechanism connected with said table, actuating mechanism whereby saidelevating mechanism is operated, a releasable coupling 'de-vice whereby the actuating mechanism can'be coupled with or uncoupled from said elevatin mechanism, and means whereby said coupling device is controlled'from one of said band-wheels, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with a vertically-movj able pile-table, an endless traveling feedingband, and band-wheels which move toward and from the pile, of elevating mechanism connected with said table, actuating mechanism whereby said elevating mechanism is operated, a releasable coupling device whereby the actuating mechanism can be coupled with or uncoupled from said elevating mechanism, and a rocking finger controlled by the rear band-wheel and whereby the coupling deyice is shifted, substantially as set forth.

20, The combination with the pile-table, its elevating mechanism andthe actuating rockle'ver, of a dog which is connected with said elevating mechanism and actuates the same and which is capable of engagement with said actuating-lever for actuating the elevating mechanism or disengagement from said lever for stopping the elevating mechanism, a disengaging-finger adapted to hold said dog out of engagement with said actuating-lever, and means whereby said finger is controlled from the pile, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination with the pile-table, its elevating mechanism and the actuating rocklever having an actuatingshoulder, of a dog which is connected with said elevating mechanism and aetuatesthe same and which is capable of movement toward and from the path of the shoulder of said actuating-lever to engage with or clear said shoulder, a rocking finger adapted to hold said dog clear of said actuating-shoulder, and means whereby said finger is controlled from the pile, substantiallyv as set forth.

22. The com binationwith a verticallyqnovable pile-table, an endless traveling feedingband, and band-wheels which move toward and from the pile, of elevating mechanism connected with said table, actuating mechanism containing a slotted rock-lever, a springpressed dog connected with the elevating mechanism and arranged in the slot of said rock-leyer, and a rocking fingercontrolled by the rear band-wheel and adapted to disengage said dog from said rock-lever, substantially as set fort-h.

23. The combination with a pile suppbrt, of an endless feeding-band, band-wheels which are secured eccentrically on their shafts, sprocket-wheels .Which are secured concentrically to said shafts, a drive-chain applied .to said sprocket-wheels, and chain -guards loosely mounted on said shafts adjacent to said sprocket-wheels, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 26th day of April, 1897.

CHAS. A. STUR'IEVANT. Witnesses:

DE WITT C. WELD, J12, v CHARLES CLARK. 

